Why does America need tariffs...

[louis c]

...all we have to do is buy American on our own, voluntarily, beginning with the U.S. Government.

So, anyone who favors tariffs and buys foreign goods when there is an American alternative, is a hypocrite.

[beachbum bob]

1. much of what we consume has no american alternative from what we wear to the phone and computers

and TVs we use

[louis c]

2. I buy American made clothes

Joseph Abuod makes American suits and other clothing (Men's Warehouse). My wife and I own American cars (both bought new), Caddy and a Taurus.

Granted that TV's, Computers and cell phones are all foreign, but there are plenty of American alternatives in many other areas.

But the point is, if you support Trump and his tariffs, yet buy a Hyandi and other foreign goods, you're a hypocrite.

If you oppose Trump's policies on trade, you can buy anything you want, because you're not a hypocrite.

I am always struck when a person wears one of those patriotic hats, with the flag, eagle and gold bars and it's made in China. Every ball cap I own is American made, union made, and I oppose Trump's tariffs for macro-economic reasons.

[beachbum bob]

4. I doubt the caddy or taurus are all made with 100% US parts...or a US supplier is available for them

again almost all we consume, we do not have an american made alternative and would take years to even redevelop the capability even if US corporations were inclined to do so. Hell, we have lost the great portion of our machine tool industry where we can't even make the equipment needed to make the stuff.

[louis c]

6. I never make the perfect the enemy of the good

It may not be 100% (although my Ford is UAW approved), but I bet they're more American made than any foreign made car.

[mercuryblues]

3. exactly

Even if we buy an American car, chances are at least some of the parts were made in another country.

The last dishwasher I shopped for, what is considered the American brand was made in Mexico. The German brand was made in the US.


I bought a new hand held can opener a few weeks back. There is one that is made in China and 1 made in the USA. They are almost identical.


The USA one is heavier and sturdier and sharper than the Chinese made one, but is also $4 more than the Chinese made one. ALWAYS get the American one. I must have bought a dozen of these. Friend's come over and help me cook dinner and always say how much they like my can opener. I buy them one.


Problem is, I used to be able to walk into any store and buy it. Now I have to order it off Amazon, because it is hard to find.


Buying American isn't as easy as it used to be. Who remembers Wal-Marts old commercial? We buy American so you don't have to.

[Lee-Lee]

5. The government largely does and its preserved what's left of several industries

Especially military procurement, where everything must be from a US manufacturer and if not it takes a special exemption and must come from an allied country- that has saved a lot of industry in this country.

Especially the textile industry. If it were not for military purchases providing a steady, secure source of demand there simply wouldn’t be any textile manufacturing left in this nation whatsoever. Not just the places that cut and see the finished product, but all the way down to the makers of fabrics and threads and the makers of dyes for those fabrics and threads.

For all of them the base level of demand from military purchases allows them to stay in business and keep reliably employing people, and they grab what they can on commercial sales. So even your maker of commercial garments that you think isn’t doing military work odds are they depend on suppliers kept in business by military work.

And many names people here know of and never considered as military manufactured are and keep their US factories afloat with military contracts- companies like North Face, Patagonia, Arc’teryx, New Balance, etc. I saw Joseph Abboud suits mentioned above- the same factory in Mass that turns out them has at many points been turning out military dress uniforms also.

Also a lot of smaller tool makers owe their continued existence to military sales- Wright, S-K, Apex, and more.